Store-front construction



G. C. HESTER.

STORE FRONT CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I2, 1918.

1,370,443. I Patented Mar. 1, 1921.

`UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEElcE.

GEORGE C. HESTER, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. ASSIGNOR TO BRASCO MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATIONOF ILLINOIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

l -Patented Mar. 1, 1921.

Original application iled February 21, 1914, Serial No. 820,284. Divided and this application tiled .Tune 12, 1918. Serial No. 239,572;

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, GEORGE C.' HEs'rER, of Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles, and in the State of California, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Store-Front Constructions, and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

This application is filed as a division of application No. 820,284 filed February 21, 1914, on which Patent No. 1,291,511 issued January 14, 1919.

Sash of sheet metal, such for example, as copper, is largely used for store front construction where large sheets of plate glass are used, the sheet metal being desirable because of the attractive finish to the window it presents; its inexpensiveness of manufacture and the possibility of the application of a metal surface to the glass without the intervention of putty between the contiguous surfaces of glass and sash. There are certain practical objections to sheet metal sash, such as is now used, some of which will be mentioned. The members of the sash as sold by the manufacturer and delivered to the job are mere shells of sheet metal and these members may be of considerable length. Obviously, in the handling of these shells they may be bent, or

dented so that the appearance will be marred. Again, the work of installation at the job is done by carpenters and the woodwork at the points where the sash is to be mounted must be made to order, that is suited for the particular job, so that the work of installation for that reason is costly and unless it is done properly, or if it is done by unskilled and inexperienced workmen, the sash and the woodwork may not be properly adapted to each other, and hence, the mounting will be defective. Again, in all metal setting for plate glass is charged a higher rate of insurancethan a setting of wood because of the greater danger of breakage. It isimportant, for reasons well known to those skilled in the art, to provide for the drainage of water through the sash and for ventilation.- The object of my invention is to provide a store front construction which will possess all the advantages of the sheet metal finish, but without its drawbacks and having provision for drainage and ventilation. and to this end my invention consists inthe store front constructed substantially as hereinafter specified and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a sash bar embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the two members for supporting and clamping the glass separated rom each other;

Fig. 3 is a cross section;

In the main, or principally, my sash comprises two members between which the margin, or edge of the plate of glass is clamped, one of which members, especially when considering the case of the bottom of the glass, supports the latter at its bottom edge and at the inner side of the glass provides a gutter to receive water of condensation, or wash water flowing down the inner side of the glass and from which gutter it is discharged through suitable passages or openings to the outside of the building, these passages or openings also serving as air passages for ventilation. Each of these members consists of a. core of wood, or metal, but preferably wood (although I do not restrict myself in the broad aspect of the case to wood) and a sheet metal covering, or facing for the core which covers and conceals all the surfaces that would be exposed to View so that the appearance is that of metal construction, and so that the surfaces of the core, which otherwise water might have access to, will be protected and danger of rotting or decay of the wood be prevented from the action of the water, if wood be the core, or rusting be prevented if the core be of steel or iron. One of these members is designated A in the drawings and the other is designated B. I shall describe these members for convenience as made of cores of wood. The member A, for convenience, I shall term the sill'member, and it'consists of a strip 10 having intermediate its front and back edges on its upper side a vertical rib 11 of a length coextensive with the length of the strip, which, accordingly, provides at the rear side of the strip, or the inner side of the window, a ledge 12 for the reception of the ends or edges of the strips of wood forming thev window floor; and toward the front side of the window provides aledge 13 above which the edge of the plate of glass 14 is situated, considering the case of the bottom of the glass. In a plane lower than the edge of the ledge 13 and on the out- 'and at intervals alon side of the windowga ledge 15 isprovided;l

and referably on the underside of the sill mem er at the front is a bead or-rib 16. The upper side of the rib 11 on the top of the sill is .dished or grooved so that such ,upper surface is /depressed preferably berib 11, to the front surface thereof, to the.

ledge 13 in front of the Vrib 11 passin over the top and front surfaces of said le ge, to the top surface of the ledge 15, to the front face of the sill to the botttom of the rib or bead 16on the underside thereof, and to the rear side of said bead or rib, a continuous sheet of copper being extended over all these surfaces and one edge being carried in the form of a lip a short distance down the inner' side of the rib 11 and the other edge beingcarried in the form of a lip a short distance on the under side of thesill from the rib or bead 16, and this copper covering, or shell is inexpensively and accurately applied to and made to conform to the surfaces of the sill by the action of drawing dies which will be readily understood, the core lof the sill together with the copperzbeing passed through the dies. Linin each vertical hole through the sill is atue 20, of sheet metal and a sheet metal conduit, or pipe 21 is p laced in each of the slots 18 in the underside of the sill, said pipe orconduit having at the front a downward extension, or prolongation 22 that passes through a hole in the bead or rib 16 on the underside of the sill so that a cornplete metal lined passage extends from the gutter which is formed at the top of the sill rib l1 through the sill to the bottom thereof, to the outside of the window so that water may pass freely from the gutter to the outside of the window and so that air may also pass through the sill for Ventilation. The outer end of the passage thus provided being in the underside of the sill is invisible and obviously affords no opportunity for the lodgment of dust or other substances which would tend to clog up the outlet end of the Qpening. It will be seen that all surfaces Which would be exposed to view are covered by sheet metal and that all surfaces to which water might have access are covered by sheet metal.

lThe member B engages the outer surface of the glass and clamps or confines the glass against the outer face of the metal covered rib 11 and said outer member B consists of a navatamrr .i Y y, j

core 23 having a flat face toward the outer side of the glass and a fiat face toward the outer sill edge 15, and a covering or shell 24 of sheet metal, such as copper, which conforms to and covers the `rentire outer surfaces of the core and carried at one'edge in the form of a lip a short distance over the side toward the glass and at theother edge a short distance over the side toward the sill, these two lips being seated in rabbets the core and their edges carried inward \1nto slits or kerfs in the core for the purpose of a secure union'of the shell, or covering and the core. The seating of the lips in rabbets in the core is desirable, especially in the case of the side of the strip toward the glass in that a wooden surface (if the core be of wood) bears against the glass and thus the danger of breakage is diminished- The member B is secured in position and made to clamp or bind against the glass by wood screws 25 that pass from the outside downward and inward therethrough at an angle into the sill member, a construction that is not only eiiicient, butsimple and inexpensive since no nut or screw socket of vmetal is necessary, such as is required in some con structions. It will be seen that in the case of the member B all exposed surfaces are metal covered. Under wind pressures .there is a slight rocking of a plate of glass. To allow that action to take place without breakage, I preferably provide on the side of the metal covered rib l1 toward the glass, an offset or projection at the top of said rib which forms a bearing, or fulcrum, on which the glass can rock, a space thus provided contiguous toA the bottom edge of the glass permitting the unobstructed inward move.

ment of the edge portion of the glassl and outward movement being possible by reason of the inherent resiliency of the outer mem ber B which causes it to yield under the pressure which the glass imposes and causes it to follow up the glassl when the pressure is relieved, this action of the member B being possible because of the location of the securing screws 25.

The rib projection that forms the bearing above described is designated 11a and the space below the same 11b. When the glass rebounds upon the cessation, or reduction of wind pressure strong enough to bend it inward at the middle and outward at the edge, which rebound is accompanied by an inward movement of the edge, the latter moves into the space 11b. Without such space, the glass edge would press with objectionable force against a solid surface that vmight itself be injured by the cutting action of the corner of the glass, or chip or shatter. the glass becausethe resistance against the glass would not be merely that of the rib 11, but the window flooring back of the latter. The situation is different inl the case of the outer gutter lining, or covering.

or clamping member B because it alone sustains the outward pressure of the edge of the glass, and the attaching screws 25 are so located as to allow the glass-engaged portions of the member B to rock by reason of its natural, inherent resiliency. In this connection, the sheet metal shell covering for the member B is important for it supports the wood case against being cracked or split. It will be observed that the sharp edge of the glass that works against the member B, does not have contact' with metal, but against the exposed portion of the wood core, and hence, is safeguarded against being chipped or shattered. Yet, as the metal shell covers the corner of the member B next the glass, a rm bearing is afforded on which the rocking motion of the glass can easily take place. Again by having a substantial portion of the wood core of member B against the glass, the clamping action of member B is promoted and a gentle but effective friction grip on the glass is secured. And besides these functional advantages which come from the partial covering of the core with the sheet metal, a minimum amount of metal is used and thus economy of manufacture promoted.

If desired, the glass may be rested at its bottom edge upon wooden, or other setting blocks.

It is obvious that my sash is applicable to the side jambs and top, or transom, as well as at the bottom, and identically the same construction without any change whatever may be employed at the sides and top as well. as at the bottom but if preferred, where the sash is to be used at the sides and top, the openings or passages for drainage and ventilation may be omitted; and it is also apparent that either or both of the devices for automatically closing the passages may be omitted.

The core of the sill member as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may be made by mill work of a single piece of wood, or other material, or if preferred the rib 1l may as shown in Fig. 3 be made separate, a groove or channel of proper width and depth being provided in the upper side of the sill to receive it. It will be understood that the tubes which form the linings for the water and air passages are preferably soldered to the copper It will be seen that by my invention I provide as acomplete article of manufacture, ready to be delivered on the job, the necessary members of the sash including the wood work to be used therewith, thus simplifying the operation of installation at the job, saving the extra cost of carpenter work and making it certain that the glass-engaging members shall be properly installed even though the workmen be unskilled, or inexperienced. Danger of injury to the sash by bending or `indentation in handling such as exists 1n the case of the mere shells heretofore used, is avoided, and I economize in the use of sheet metal, which, of course, in the case of copper particularly, is important because all of the sheet metal beine' backed and supported by a core it can be made muchl thinner than is possible when no core 1s used.

Of course, changes in construction for the embodiment of my invention may be made which will involve nol departure from the principle of the invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

l. As an improvement in store front construction, the combination of a plate of glass, an inner sash member having a ver tlcal glass-engaging side and a gutter in its top side, said member consisting of a core and a sheet metal shell covering the top side and extending over the glass-engaging side, the glass-engaging surface being projected outwardly above the plane of the bottom edge of the glass, a space being provided in rear of the portion of the glass below that engaged by such member, an outer glassengaging member consisting of a sheet metal shell and a core, the sheet metal shell being carried from the top of the outer member partially over the core side next the glass and forming a metal bearing for the glass at the top of such member, and means that hold the outer member with a clamping pressure against the glass situated to leave the upper portion of such member capable of moving with the glass.

2. As an improvement in store front construction, the combination of a plate of glass, two members that respectively, engage the glass on its inner and outer sides, the inner member having a bearing for the glass to rock on, and the outer member consisting of a sheet metal shell and a core of wood,

both sheet metal and wood having contact with the glass, and means that hold the outer member against the glass that leave its glass-engaging portion .capable of moving with the glass when the latter rocks on said bearing.

3. As an improvement in store front con' struction, the combination of a plate of glass, an outer glass-engaging member, an inner glass engaging member having its glass-engaging surface outwardly offset, providing a space in rear of the glass from its margin to such offset, said inner member being composed of sheet metal and a solid body over which the sheet metal partially extends and with which it conforms, and means securing the outer member at a point to one side of the glass-engaging surface of the inner member, the portion of the outer member in contact with the glass being capable of moving with the glass.

4. A store front construction comprising a plate of glass, two sash members that engage the glass on. the inner and outer si es, resp'eotlvely, the outer member oonsisting of a Wood core and a metal shell that oovers the outer surface oj the core and extends artially over the side of the core next tige glass, the glass beingn contact with both the wood and metal of the outer member, a sill and means to hold said outer member against the glass consisting of screws that pass obli ue y throu h said outer* membeninto said sil member om a point below the upper corner of said outer mem ber, said outer member being substantially 15 triangular in cross section with Vertcaland horizontal sides toward the glass and sill, respectively. A

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand;

GEORGE o. HESITER.. 

